Metro
Abuja Pastor Bags 20 Years Jail Term for Violating 12-Year-Old Member’s Daughter
A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Gudu, presided over by Hon. Justice Adebiyi Osolo, has sentenced a preacher, Bishop Kenneth Duke, to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine, for rape.
The 52-year-old convict, an indigene of Cross River State, was dragged to Court by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for raping a 12-year-old girl (names withheld), the daughter of his church member, who was entrusted under the care of his family.
In case no: CR/702/2023 Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs Bishop Kenneth Duke, the Defendant was arraigned before Court 16 on 02/11/2023 on a 2-count charge for offence of rape and intentionally caused emotional and psychological abuse on the victim.
The offence stated that the convict, who lives behind Dantata Construction Company, Dakwa, Abuja, on 6th March 2023, penetrated the vagina of the victim (name withheld) with his penis without the consent of the victim thereby committing an offence punishable under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015. Investigation revealed that the victim, an indigene of Ondo State was living in Lagos before she was brought to Abuja to live with her mother.
The report indicated that on March 5, 2023, her mother took her to the Church located at Dantata Zuba Expressway, and after the service, she was taken to the family house of the Bishop, who is also the Pastor of the Church so that she could stay with them to enable the Bishop’s wife to take her to where she will learn a skill which both families had earlier discussed.
Reports said the following day, March 6, 2023, the convict, a father of 5 children, sent his children on an errand, and being alone with the victim at home at about 10 am, gave her some Mathematics problems to solve and as she was trying to do it, the bishop pounced on her, covered her mouth and violently raped her on a chair despite her crying and pleading.
In the judgment, the randy clergy was found guilty of a one-count charge of rape and was sentenced accordingly without an option of fine.
The development came on the heels of the rescue of 9 pregnant girls on Monday, by the operatives of NAPTIP at a suspected baby factory located inside one of the sprawling estates in Ushafa area of Abuja.
The victims were locked up in a rented apartment inside the estate by a yet-to-be-identified suspected trafficking agent after recruiting them through an online platform.
The raid on the facility by operatives of NAPTIP followed a tip-off by a concerned citizen who noticed the unusual situation and movement around the area.
Speaking on the conviction, Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, applauded the Judiciary for the landmark judgment, saying it will serve as a deterrent to others.
“I want to sincerely thank the Judiciary for this judgment. It will certainly serve as a deterrent to other people. Like I warned a few weeks ago, NAPTIP will not spare anyone found to have violated any of the Laws irrespective of status, either on human trafficking or violence against persons.
“Rape is a serious crime with everlasting psychological effect and lasting trauma on the victim. We must all rise to say no to this heinous crime and ensure the protection of our Children.
“How, can you imagine a 52-year-old man violating a 12-year-old girl? It is painful and it is criminal.
“I am relieved that the Judiciary has served the convict the commensurable dose of punishment for his action. This is a warning to others,” the Director General stated.
AIG Margaret Ochalla Agebe, on Monday, formally assumed office as the 54th Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Lagos, according to a statement by the FCID Public Relations Officer, ASP Mayegun Aminat, and made available to pointblank.ng
Her appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter in the leadership of the department, following the retirement of the esteemed AIG Augustina N. Ogbodo (rtd), who concluded a distinguished and exemplary career in the Nigeria Police Force.
A native of Yala Local Government Area in Cross River State, AIG Margaret Ochalla Agebe holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the prestigious Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Conflict Resolution and Refugee Management and a Master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies. Her robust educational background, combined with her extensive professional experience, underscores her readiness to lead FCID Annex Lagos in addressing the contemporary challenges of criminal intelligence and investigation.
Throughout her distinguished career, AIG Agebe has held several pivotal positions within the Nigeria Police Force, each contributing to her exemplary leadership profile. She has served as the Personal Assistant to four Commissioners of Police in Anambra, Officer In-Charge of the Monitoring Unit in Anambra, Team Leader of the IGP Monitoring Unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) at the Force Gender Unit, and Advisor to the Inspector General on Gender Issues. She also served as Commissioner of Police at the Anti-Fraud Unit in the Force CID, Abuja, and Commissioner of Police at the Special Fraud Unit in Lagos. Her exceptional work at the Special Fraud Unit paved the way for her elevation to Assistant Inspector General of Police at the Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, where she made a significant impact through her visionary leadership and strategic initiatives. AIG Agebe’s contributions were instrumental in the establishment of specialized units and frameworks that significantly enhanced the operational capabilities of the Nigeria Police Force.
AIG Agebe is widely recognized for her relentless commitment to professional development and operational excellence. She has attended numerous specialized courses and training programs, gaining invaluable expertise in law enforcement, which she has applied throughout her career across various commands and formations nationwide.
Her leadership and service have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Global Women Hall of Fame (2017), the Africa Women Leadership Award presented in South Africa by His Excellency John Mahama, President of Ghana, the National Security Award for Excellent Performance and Exemplary Leadership by the Federal Republic of Nigeria Senate Committee on Police Affairs, the Improving Access to Justice Award presented by former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and the Outstanding and Invaluable Service to the Nigeria Police Award. Additionally, AIG Agebe has received the Season Corps Award for Competent Governance and Civil Trust, the Distinguished Global Amazon Award in Kigali, Rwanda, and the Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award of Excellence (2023). She was also honored with the International Security Service Award by ISO-SEC Switzerland and HSIIS United Kingdom (2024), the National Crimewatch Lifetime Achievement Award (2024), the Award of Excellence by the Yache Community Development Association, and the Outstanding Female Humanitarian of the Year Award. AIG Agebe’s unwavering dedication to advancing the efficiency of the Nigeria Police Force, with a particular focus on combating gender-based violence, fraud, and other criminal activities, demonstrates her deep commitment to justice, human rights, and national security.
In her new role, AIG Agebe calls on well-meaning citizens to support the Police in the fight against crime, promote justice, and strengthen national security. She remains steadfast in her mission to enhance the operational effectiveness of the FCID, ensuring public safety, upholding the integrity of the Police Force, and continuing her strong stance against corruption as envisioned by the Inspector General of Police.
A 45-year-old teacher identified as Musa Wada has been nabbed in Jigawa State in connection with beheading and cutting off the genital organs of his 14-year-old Almajiri student, Bashir Adamu.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson of Jigawa Police Command, SP Lawan Shiisu, said the suspect was arrested by detectives following a tip-off.
SP Shiisu said upon interrogation, the teacher confessed that the deceased died while serving punishment for his absenteeism from school but he decided to behead and cut off the victim’s head and genitals to deceive the public into believing that the teenage boy was killed by a ritualist.
“On 13/03/2025 at about 1530hrs, one Mal. Musa Wada ‘m’ age 45yrs of Jikas-Dabaja village, Gwaram LGA, was arrested in connection with the gruesome killing of his pupil (Almajiri), one Bashir Adamu.
“Following a tip-off, detectives attached to the Gwaram Division successfully arrested the suspect.
“On interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department Dutse, the suspect confessed that, the late Bashir Adamu was his student but refused to come to school; when he questioned him about the reason for his absence, he failed to provide a satisfactory response; as a result, he decided to punish him.
“In the process, Bashir lost consciousness and passed away.
While attempting to deceive the public into believing that ritualists had killed Bashir, he decided to cut off his head and genital organs.
“He added that the removed head and genital organs were buried in his farmland.
“On 12/03/2025 at about 2200hrs, information from Divisional Police Headquarters Gwaram, noted that a beheaded body with no genital organs was sighted by the roadside along Jikas-Dabaja village, Gwaram LGA which already started decomposing.
“The corpse was later identified as Bashir Adamu, a student (Almajiri) of one Mal Musa Wada.
“Upon completion of investigation, the suspect will be arraigned before the court to face the full wrath of the law,” Shiisu added.
There are statutory reasons to suggest that a Lagos-based member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Ushie Uguamaye, might have her service year extended by 30 days with half pay as punishment for criticising the administration of President Bola Tinubu, a conduct adjudged as a violation of the NYSC Bye Laws (Revised 2011).
Recently, Uguamaye, known on TikTok as @talktoraye, shared a video in which she called out the Tinubu administration over the economic hardship Nigerians have faced since it was sworn-in.
In another TikTok video, the young lady claimed that she was threatened on the phone by an official of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the video criticising the president.
She also shared a screenshot of a message allegedly received from NYSC officials summoning her to report to the Eti-Osa Local Government office on Monday.
According to Uguamaye, she fears for her life because she has also been receiving threats from anonymous persons after her video went viral.
The first video shared by Uguamaye may have contravened the NYSC Bye-Laws (Revised 2011), the section which says corps members are “not be rude to constituted authority” during primary assignments.
It reads: “Any member who is rude to constituted authority shall be tried by the Corps Disciplinary Committee and, if found guilty, be liable to extension of service for a period not less than thirty (30) days with half pay.”
Meanwhile, no official statement from NYSC has been received yet.
